Rivynn couldn't understand why she and her brother, Rain, were kept chained away from everyone else. They were told it was to keep them safe from the shadows... But what if that was a lie?
~~~~~~
Rain hadn't told her... but the shadows were real...
From where he lay against the door, Ruben strained to hear what was going on outside the parish.
"Please. There is no need. He isn't well," Marren objected.
"I don't care. He is their blood. You will bring him to me at once," a stern voice ordered.
"Marren, what is going on? Who are these men? And where is Brother Ruben?" He heard Ella asking, confusion in her kind voice. But her questions were left unanswered.
Feebly, he moved aside as his door was unbolted.
"They're here," Marren said, stepping inside.
Ruben refused to answer and turned his head away, too weak to do anything else.
"Can you stand?" Without waiting for a reply, though, Marren motioned for one of the other brothers to help him. Together they half dragged, half carried him to the foyer where several fierce, heavily armed men were waiting.
Their bodies were adorned with intricate tattoos and all of them bore a crescent brand on their right shoulder. There was no mistaking who they were. They were from the High Order of the Draycent, and they could only be here for one reason.
"You are Ruben, uncle to the tainted children?" The one who appeared to be in charge asked. Ruben was left to drop to his knees before them. The Draycent were powerful and owed no one so much as a polite introduction.
"I am. And who are you?" He answered defiantly, despite his weakness.
The Draycent's eyes narrowed. "You are strong to have lasted this long. So I will answer your question. I am Roake Kalamity. Now, you will answer my questions. How have you kept both children alive for so many years?"
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Ruben frowned. "I didn't do anything."
"Do not lie to me. The weaker siblings do not live past their second or third year."
"I am not lying," Ruben snapped. "I didn't do anything."
"Do you think I can't smell it? There is dragon essence here."
Knowing he wouldn't be able to keep it secret long, he quickly explained. "Yes, I had some, but I never used it on the children. I swear. They didn't need it."
"He tells the truth, my lord," Marren interceded.
"Quiet monk!" The Draycent snarled before turning his attention back to Ruben.
He met the Draycent's piercing gaze. "I'm not lying," he repeated. "I only used it on their mother..." he added quietly.
"If that is the truth, how is it they are both still alive?"
"How am I supposed to know?" He said exasperated. "All I've done is make sure they were well cared for as best as could be managed."
"Very well," Roake relented. "You have our thanks for looking after them. We will take them now."
"Please, can I at least see them one more time," he petitioned.
"I don't think that would be wise," Roake replied coldly. "You could not survive in their presence right now."
"I don't care..."
"And how do you think they would feel if you died in front of them?" The Draycent snapped, a flash of anger darted into his eyes. "Let them leave with the memory that you were alive the last time they saw you."
Turning to Marren, he ordered, "Give him the dragon essence, or he will not last the night."
Then stepping outside, he went to his horse and unfastened an ornately decorated black leather bag.
"This is payment for the tainted children," he said as he dropped it on the parish doorstep. It landed with a thud, heavy with coin.
Ruben gritted his teeth and tried to get up. But his legs were loathe to hold him. Helplessly he collapsed on the cold stone floor. He could only watch as the collectors mounted their horses and headed off towards the little outpost that had been his niece and nephew's home for the last few years.
Marren knelt beside him, the Mystic's vial in his hand. "Drink it," he said holding it out.
"Just leave me alone!" He snapped and tried to knock it aside but Marren easily dodged his feeble attempt.
He could see the frustration in Marren's eyes as he turned to their brothers. "Brother Ruben isn't well. I need your help to get him to drink this medicine."
